title: Copper and aspirin treatment increase the antioxidant activity of plasma.
abstract: Copper (Cu) complexes of a number of compounds have increased anti-inflammatory efficacy over the native compound. In the present study, Cu and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) were administered to rabbits over a one week period. At the end of this time, ocular inflammation was induced by intravitreal injection of endotoxin. ASA caused a slight reduction in the inflammatory response at 24 hours, but this response was not further decreased when Cu was added to the treatment regimen. However, there was a gradual and significant increase in antioxidant activity in the plasma of animals in the combined treatment group which could not be accounted for by a Cu-ASA complex, an increase in the concentration of known plasma protein antioxidants (ceruloplasmin and transferrin) or an increase in superoxide dismutase activity. The compound(s) responsible for this increased activity has a molecular weight greater than 10,000 Da. A large increase in plasma antioxidant activity may have a protective effect in other models of inflammation and provide a mechanism for the proven increase in anti-inflammatory efficacy of Cu-chelates of many compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Radiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McGahan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011817:Rabbits; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004731:Endotoxins; D014168:Transferrin; D003300:Copper; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D001241:Aspirin